MEDFORD, MA (February 18, 2026) -- The Tufts University women's basketball team hits the road this upcoming weekend for the 2026 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) quarterfinals, traveling to Brunswick, Maine to battle No. 1 seed Bowdoin College Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Jumbos have been inconsistent at times this year, but have posted big road wins at Middlebury College, Trinity College along with a home win over No. 4 Smith College, so Tufts will be eyeing an upset of the No. 8 Polar Bears. Earlier in the year, Tufts fell to Bowdoin College 76-60 in Cousens Gymnasium back on January 9.
Game Details
Opponent: at Bowdoin College (22-1, 10-0 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Brunswick, Maine –
Morrell Gymnasium -
Directions
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Against Bowdoin All-Time
The Jumbos and Polar Bears have had a great all-time series with Bowdoin holding a slight 34-29 edge in the 63 prior meetings. Bowdoin has controlled the series over the last few seasons, winning the last four game after Tufts had won five of the previous six. Tufts is 10-16 all-time up in Maine against the Polar Bears, with the last win in Brunswick for Tufts coming on February 4, 2023. These two teams have a long history of playing in the NESCAC Tournament, as the NESCAC Tournament series is knotted at 6-6. The Polar Bears handed Tufts a 78-60 loss in the 2024 quarterfinals the last time the teams met in the conference championship.
A Look at the Jumbos (13-11, 4-6 NESCAC)
Tufts enters the NESCAC Quarterfinals with a 13-11 overall record and a 4-6 mark in conference play. The Jumbos have played a large number of close games throughout the season, reflected in a narrow +0.5 scoring margin. They average 63.3 points per game while allowing 62.7, with balanced scoring distribution and defensive pressure shaping much of their performance profile.
Offensively, Tufts is led by first-year guard
Tessa Lozner, who averages 12.9 points per game while shooting .476 from the field. Lozner is 11th in the NESCAC in scoring, while her shooting clip is sixth-best overall.
Abby Congdon adds 10.4 points per game and contributes across multiple categories, while
Annie Aspesi provides 9.5 points and leads the team in rebounding at 5.0 per game.
Claire Kolkhorst adds perimeter production with 43 made three-pointers and 8.2 points per game.
Depth scoring has been an important factor for the Jumbos.
Stella Galanes contributes 7.1 points per game off the bench, while
Abi Stone provides efficient interior scoring, shooting .531 from the field.
Sarah Crossett adds 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, and several rotation players contribute in defined roles to maintain offensive balance.
Tufts' statistical profile reflects a team that relies on perimeter volume and ball pressure. The Jumbos average 6.8 made three-pointers per game and generate 8.3 steals per contest. They also maintain a positive turnover margin, forcing more turnovers than they commit, which has helped offset a slight rebounding deficit.
Defensively, Tufts has held opponents to similar scoring levels throughout the season, with opponents averaging 62.7 points per game. Games have frequently remained within single-digit margins into the fourth quarter. The team's defensive production is driven primarily by steals and pressure on ball handlers rather than shot blocking presence.
Tufts secured key conference wins against Middlebury, Wesleyan, Trinity, and Amherst. The Jumbos though will need to sure up their defense coming into the weekend, as Tufts is allowing a league-high 62.7 points per game on the season which includes a league-low 42.1 percent field goal shooting against. The Jumbos do shoot the three at a very strong clip, making 32.6 percent from three-point territory, which is second in the conference.
The Jumbos are in search of their fifth all-time league title over the next few weeks.
A Look At The Polar Bears (22-1, 10-0 NESCAC)
Bowdoin enters the week at 22-1 overall and 10-0 in NESCAC play, riding a 14-game winning streak and holding a perfect 12–0 record away from home. The Polar Bears have outscored opponents by nearly 18 points per game, averaging 66.4 points while allowing just 48.7.
Bowdoin has generated a 17.8 scoring margin and has limited opponents to .341 shooting across 23 contests. The Polar Bears' defensive profile has been a defining strength. Opponents are scoring just 48.7 points per game and shooting 109-for-384 (.284) from three, while Bowdoin forces 16 turnovers per game and averages 9.0 steals. The team also owns a +10.3 rebounding margin, collecting 934 total rebounds to opponents' 697.
Offensively, Bowdoin features a balanced attack led by Abbie Quinn and Grace Kinum. Quinn averages 14.4 points and 5.2 rebounds, shooting .527 from the field and .723 at the line. Kinum adds 13.2 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds, while also leading Bowdoin with 102 assists. Quinn has scored 332 points, and Kinum has totaled 304 through 23 games.
Carly Davey provides another double-figure scoring presence at 10.7 points per game while shooting .397 from three. Maria Belardi contributes 8.3 points per game and leads the team with 39 made three-pointers. Payton Collins (5.4 ppg), Jamie Yue (4.8 ppg), and Melissa Leone (4.0 ppg) round out a deep rotation in which 11 players average at least nine minutes per game. The roster collectively shoots .425 from the field and .330 from three.
Bowdoin's consistency has carried into conference play, where the team is 10-0 with a +16.3 scoring margin. In league games, the Polar Bears are shooting .432 overall and .333 from three, while holding NESCAC opponents to 49.9 points per game. Quinn (16.9 ppg) and Kinum (12.6 ppg) again lead the way, with Davey (11.4 ppg) providing a third double-figure scorer in conference action. Quinn's conference points average is tops in the league.
The Polar Bears' lone loss came to Calvin on December 30. Bowdoin has won every other game by at least eight points and has held 10 opponents under 45 points. Bowdoin is in search of its NESCAC leading 12 all-time league championship, and is the No. 1 seed for the third consecutive season and 10th time in program history. Bowdoin is making its 25th consecutive appearance in the NESCAC Tournament.
Other NESCAC Quarterfinals
No. 2 Bates Bobcats (21-3, 8-2 NESCAC) vs. No. 7 Hamilton Continentals (12-12, 4-6 NESCAC) - Lewiston, Maine
No. 3 Amherst Mammoths (17-7, 6-4 NESCAC) vs. No. 6 Conn. College Camels (14-9, 5-5 NESCAC) - Amherst, Mass.
No. 4 Trinity Bantams (16-8, 5-5 NESCAC) vs. No. 5 Williams Ephs (12-12, 5-5 NESCAC) - Hartford, Conn.
--JUMBOS--
